Indigenous Health Background

It is a well-known fact that the health of Indigenous peoples remains the worst of any group within the Australian community1. Life expectancy is 15-20 years less than the non-Indigenous population and rates of hospitalisation exceed those for all Australians in every age group (AIHW 2005). However, there are some signs of improvement in health indicators. For example, over the last 40 years there has been a slow reduction in Northern Territory Indigenous mortality rates for all age groups, especially children under 5 years (Condon et al. 2004). The health status of Indigenous people in comparable countries (New Zealand, Canada and USA) is much closer to that of other citizens (Ring and Firman 1998) suggesting further gains are achievable. As an initial response to this situation the Australian Physiotherapy Association (APA) developed an Indigenous health position statement in 1996. Since this time there have been significant changes within Indigenous health policy and planning. The National Strategic Framework for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health sets a reform agenda for the decade 2003-2013 and was endorsed by all Australian Health Ministers (NATSIHC 2004). The APA position statement on Indigenous health has been reviewed to align it with this framework. Principle